Rabbit Curry Recipe - Indian Rabbit Curry | Hank Shaw (2024)

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5 from 16 votes

By Hank Shaw

March 28, 2013 | Updated December 01, 2022

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Rabbit Curry Recipe - Indian Rabbit Curry | Hank Shaw (2)

Basically this is a Madras chicken curry turned into a rabbit curry. I have not yet found a curry designed for rabbit in Indian cuisine, but I am betting it exists. So in that vein, if you don’t happen to have rabbits lying around your fridge, use chicken or any other white meat.

There is an ulterior motive at work here, too, however. I have a lot to learn about Indian food, and making curries is a good way to start that journey. This is one of my first forays into the subcontinent’s cooking (the other being a Goan crab curry), and while I like curry just fine, it is still a cuisine foreign to me.

As for this recipe, it’s fun — and since I used a store-bought curry paste, super easy. You can literally have this bad boy done in an hour.

5 from 16 votes

Rabbit or Hare Curry

I made this with jackrabbit, which like most hares is a dark meat, but unless you are a hunter, hare can be tough to buy. My advice is to either go with rabbit, which is a white meat, or use a similar red meat, i.e., venison or lamb. More or less everything else is easily found in a decent supermarket, so this is not an especially challenging curry.

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Indian

Servings: 4 people

Author: Hank Shaw

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup ghee, clarified butter, or vegetable oil
  • 2 pounds hare or rabbit meat, cut off the bone and into chunks
  • Salt
  • 2 cups yellow or white onion, sliced root to tip
  • 2 tablespoons minced ginger
  • 2 tablespoons minced garlic
  • A 14-ounce can of tomato puree
  • 1 cup plain yogurt, Greek style is best
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 heaping teaspoon turmeric
  • 1/4 cup Madras curry paste, or 2 tablespoons Madras curry powder
  • 1 tablespoon Garam Masala
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro for garnish

Instructions

  • Heat the clarified butter in a wide pot (like a sauce pot or high-sided frying pan with a lid) over medium-high heat. Pat the hare pieces dry with paper towels and brown them well. Salt the meat as it cooks. Remove to a bowl once browned.

  • Add the onion and saute until it begins to brown at the edges, about 5 minutes. Add the ginger and garlic and cook another minute.

  • Return the meat to the pot and add the tomato puree, water, bay leaves, turmeric and Madras curry paste. Stir in the yogurt and bring to a gentle simmer. Add salt to taste and simmer for 30 minutes.

  • Finish by stirring in the Garam Masala and the cilantro. Serve over rice.

Notes

Serve with rice or flatbreads. A hoppy beer would be your best accompaniment.

Nutrition

Calories: 501kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 52g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 161mg | Sodium: 122mg | Potassium: 966mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 2396IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 134mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Tried this recipe? Tag me today!Mention @huntgathercook or tag #hankshaw!

Categorized as:
Asian, Featured, Recipe, Wild Game

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About Hank Shaw

Hey there. Welcome to Hunter Angler Gardener Cook, the internet’s largest source of recipes and know-how for wild foods. I am a chef, author, and yes, hunter, angler, gardener, forager and cook. Follow me on Instagram and on Facebook.

Read More About Me

Rabbit Curry Recipe - Indian Rabbit Curry | Hank Shaw (2024)

FAQs

Why do you soak rabbit before cooking? ›

A Brine Keeps the Rabbit Moist

And while the combination seasons the rabbit nicely, the buttermilk and salt give you a little wiggle room to ensure that the cooked rabbit doesn't dry out.

How long does a rabbit take to cook? ›

Bake uncovered in the preheated oven, basting frequently, until very tender, about 90 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the meat nearest the bone should read at least 160 degrees F (72 degrees C).

How to make Indian curry better? ›

Fixing cooked curries and gravies is no less than a challenge, but a simple way to do so is by adding freshly chopped herbs like coriander, basil, fenugreek leaves, spinach, mint leaves. The fresh flavour of these herbs can instantly elevate the taste and texture and give them a health twist.

How to prepare rabbit meat for cooking? ›

Preparation:
  1. Remove the organs and any gizzards that remain in the stomach cavity of the rabbit.
  2. Using a boning knife or sharp chef's knife, remove the front legs. ...
  3. Next remove the hind legs and thighs. ...
  4. Next remove the thin meat that hangs from the rib cage. ...
  5. Lastly, remove the tenderloin.
Apr 6, 2023

How long to soak a rabbit? ›

Soak rabbits in a resealable bag with buttermilk for 8 hours or overnight. Set a deep fryer to 350 degrees. Prepare stations for breading the meat, frying the meat, and cooling the meat.

How do you tenderize a rabbit before cooking? ›

Marinating the rabbit in buttermilk for two to eight hours helps to tenderize the meat and add flavor and moisture to the finished product. Start the recipe with a buttermilk soak. The enzymes and acids in buttermilk help to both tenderize and add flavor and moisture to the lean rabbit meat.

How do you know when rabbit is done cooking? ›

For safety, the United States Department of Agriculture recommends cooking rabbit to an internal temperature of at least 160 °F (71 °C). The use of a food thermometer is recommended.

How is rabbit supposed to be cooked? ›

Cooking rabbit is similar to chicken, fry on a moderate heat for 20 minutes or so until the internal temperature reaches 71°C. Ideally, only quick-cook the lean, tender cuts of rabbit, such as the saddle or the loin - the other cuts are much more suited to pot roasting or braising.

Can you overcook rabbit? ›

Rabbit is easy to over-cook, because it tends to cook more quickly than other types of meat and poultry. Your mileage may very, but cooking at a low temperature will make your life easier by preventing your rabbit from becoming tough — you won't have to babysit it as much as high-temperature cooking.

What is the secret ingredient in Indian curry? ›

It's the ringer that makes so many Indian dishes exceptional. It's a flavor that you can't pinpoint in a dish or even fully explain but that lingers on your taste buds long after all the other spices. Once you start cooking with asafoetida, every Indian dish you eat without it will taste like it's missing something.

What thickens Indian curry? ›

Coconut milk or cream:

For a rich and creamy curry, coconut milk or cream can be a fantastic thickening agent. They not only add creaminess but also a delightful tropical flavour. Simply pour in some coconut milk or cream and let it simmer until your sauce reaches the desired consistency.

What is the secret ingredient for curry? ›

Whether you may be familiar with the differences between curries from various countries, such as Indian versus Japanese curry, and perhaps even know how to make them at home, there's a special flavor enhancer that you may not have thought to add: honey.

Should rabbit be marinated before cooking? ›

Marinating the rabbit for 2 hours is actually ideal since the marinade will have more time to permeate and flavor the meat. Preheat the oven to 425º. Prepare an ovenproof frying pan by adding the butter to it and warming it over medium-high heat.

What do you soak rabbit meat in? ›

The meat is slightly darker and has more flavor, but can also be slightly tougher,” says Christopher Eley, who explains that the best way to prepare a wild rabbit is to soak it in either a saltwater solution or buttermilk. Saltwater will draw out any remaining blood and start to tenderize it.

Is rabbit meat healthy? ›

Rabbit meat is a nutrient-rich and affordable food with a lower environmental impact than red meat from cattle or sheep. Rabbit meat is considered healthy, as it is lower in fat, cholesterol and sodium than other types of meat, and rich in protein.

How long to soak rabbit meat in salt water? ›

Let them soak for 8-24 hours.

What's the best way to tenderize rabbit? ›

In order to tenderize the meat, we are going to marinate the rabbit overnight. For the deep fried rabbit, I prepared a buttermilk base with some rosemary and thyme. The recipe below will give you the exact ingredients. Make sure it soaks for a minimum of 12 hours, but 24 is better.

Why shouldn't rabbits get wet? ›

Damp Bunnies Can Become Ill

Wet fur can cause hypothermia quickly, especially if you use cold water. In addition, if water gets into your rabbit's nose or ears, it can cause an ear infection, which can be both painful and serious. Flushing the ears can also cause irritated skin and lead to a bacterial infection.

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